Fence



(Nonodl.)

Ji. E. KLINE.

FENCE.

No. 491,180. Patented Feb. 7, 1893.-

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UNrrnD STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. KLINE, OF CASEY, ILLINOIS.

FENCE.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 491,180, dated February '7, 1893.

Application led December 19, 1891. Serial No. 415,629. (No model.)

' for its object to provide an improved construction of ordinary worm fences which will not only economize in the quantity of rails used, but will also provide means whereby the whole fence is firmlyv braced both side and endwise, and each panel comprising said fence securely locked so as to effectually prevent the same from being blown over or interfered with by Y stock. l

With -these and many other objects and advantages in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is fully understood, the same consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.'

In the accompanying dlawings5--Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a fence constructed in accordance with 'my in vention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail in perspective of the lock in the portion of the panel to which it is secured, illustrating the method of locking. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view through the locking stake and rail ends.

Referring to the accompanying drawings 5- A represents a rail fence constructed in the usual zig zag or worm manner, and in the present instance the main body of the fence A is only raised from the ground a sufficient distance or height in order to turn small stock. The other part of the fence compensates for the absence of the extra rails, which is an important point in view of the fact that fences of this character which are constructed a suitable height are quite apt to be top-heavy, and thereby will reel over under the force of a storm or by stock interfering therewith. Instead of locking the panels comprising the Worm fence together by securing the corners thereof rmly together, a straight line of locking rails B is laid straight through the center of the fence, and therefore directly over and upon thecenter of each panel, so that when said locking rails are clamped thereover, they have a tendency to spring the top and bottom rail, and so on each rail being a locking rail for the last rail until the locking of 'the fence is completed.

A stake O is placed alongside of the fence panel at the center thereof, and extends from below the lower rail above the overlapping ends of the locking rails to a suitable height according to the height of fence desired. A locking wire D is now fastened at d around the bottom end of said stake and passes therefrom under the bottom' rail and up the opposite side of the fence panel to that upon which the said stake is placed. The movable lever or lock rail of the locking rails B is thrown back so as to allow the wire D to pass behind and over the end of the same as at E and under and over the top of the uppermost rail as at F as clearly shown in Fig. 2. 'The wire is now passed around the upper portion of the stake adjacent to the overlapped lock-rail ends, and crossing itself is passed back under the upper rail as at g and over the outside end of the under or lever rail asiat H. The wire is now carried down one or more rails upon the same side as the stake and then passes under the same and is secured to the main portion of the Wire D passing vertically over the face of the panel. By now throwing .the movable orunder lever rail around into position in a straight line over the fence so that the free end thereof will lie over the center of the next adjacent panel, the wire at E and H is forced tightly under and out from the upper locking rail B as will be readily apparent by a close observance of the wire, and thereby draws the same taut and causes the top and bottom rails to be sprung toward each other to a certain extent, thereby greatly increasing the efficiency of the lock.

The rail used as the lever for locking the last panel is held in position, by the next stake, over the center of the next panel and is itself locked togetherl with its connecting or joining lock rail in a similar manner to that just described.

lt can be readily seen that the locking stakes and Wires need not necessarily be used at every panel of a fence, but can be used at such a distance apart as may be desired by the builder of the fence, and in such case a locking wire J may be conveniently used to secure the lapping ends of the locking rails together over the center of the panel uponwhich the same rests and are to be secured. WiresKare run from the upper end of stake to stake to connect the saine and complete the formation of the fence, thereby saving use of much material as has been hereinbcfore set forth.

The construction and advantages of the hereindescribed fence and fence lock are now thought to be apparent without further description.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s;-

In a fence, the combination with the zigzag panels ofplocking rails in direct alignment with each other and running in a straight line centrally above the fence panels and having their overlapped ends resting upon the top rail in the center of each panel, a locking the center of each panel and extending above the overlapped ends of the locking rails, a single locking Wire secured to the lower end of each stake and passing under the bottom rail of the panel and up the side of the sameparallel with and opposite to the stake, thence behind and returned back over the end of the under locking rail, under and over the upper locking rail, from thence completely around and crossed at one side of the stake, -belrtnd and under said upper rail, over and below the outside end of the under locking rail and finally crossed under one ofthe intermediate rails of the panel and secured to the straight portion of the locking wire, said locking rails being adapted to be swung into alignment With each other after said locking wire has been` arranged in position, to force the said Wire into its locking position and spring vthe rails together, to bind or clamp their ends together and straight running wires stretched from stake to stake above and parallel with said locking rails, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own l have hereto aiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN E. KLINE.

Vitnesses:

Trios. B. WILSON,

stake placed vertically upon one side and at EDGAR B. WILSON. 

